Browne Urges Commonwealth to Confront Reparations and Historical Injustice
Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Tuesday called on Commonwealth nations to engage in open, mature discussions on reparations for slavery and colonialism, describing the issue as one of justice and reconciliation rather than blame.
Speaking at the official launch of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which Antigua and Barbuda will host next November, Browne said the topic should no longer be avoided within the Commonwealth family. He stated that the government “will not use the issue of reparations to shame any nation,” but instead urged that countries “should be able to have very honest discussions about the issue of reparations and to establish a framework in which we can discuss this issue honestly and resolve it in a mutually satisfactory manner.”
Browne told delegates and diplomats gathered at Sandals Grande Antigua that the Commonwealth — a grouping of 56 nations representing 2.7 billion people — has a responsibility to lead on issues of justice, just as it once did in confronting apartheid and championing climate action. “Our Commonwealth, which fought against the scourge of apartheid, which led boldly the call to limit 1.5 degrees in the climate debates, and which presents a model for how countries can cooperate as equals, is a forum to show global leadership on issues of justice — both environmental and historical,” he said.
The Prime Minister framed the question of reparations as part of a broader moral duty to correct historic wrongs and promote equitable development among nations. He said member states must “right the wrongs committed against our forebears” and ensure that any resulting process contributes to unity rather than division.
Browne’s appeal came as Antigua and Barbuda prepares to host CHOGM 2026 under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.” He said the meeting would serve as a platform for small states to push for fairness and inclusion in global policy, including long-standing demands for economic redress and reform.
The Prime Minister’s remarks positioned reparations alongside other key priorities — climate resilience, international financial reform, and global peace — as part of Antigua and Barbuda’s agenda for what he described as a “transformative CHOGM.”
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Reparations begin with the Church of England headed by your king who’ll be in Antigua, the catholic church headquartered in Rome and those descendants of African chiefs who helped to kidnap and sold fellow Africans to those managed, by England and Rome.
Gaston Browne, PM stop with the quasi, fake reparations talk, and speak like a Leader who is certain, of the moves he’s making.
Non of the aforementioned can deny their pivotal roles, in the transatlantic slave trade between the 15h century (physical & mental) to today’s (mental slavery with their archaic laws, embedded into our constitution) – by the way, has the church stop frowning upon children born out of wedlock? This is an important aspect, of our past history which still has ramifications in our education systems today; and, this is the proliferation of anger among the youths, in particular those from less fortunate or transient families, now calling Antigua, not so much Barbuda home. The rapid increase in petty crimes amongst the youth is a tell tale sign, of issues with the EARLY EDUCATION and childhood development. This talk of the home is responsible is ONLY true to a certain degree. Your immediate environment once you step outside of your home from an early age, is indelibly linked, to your future psyche.
Got a little bit sidetracked, but the funding through any reparations payments MUST first address, the EDUCATION SYSTEM, from early childhood forward.
Again l, yet again a relevant reparations argument MUST be taken to the Courts, just like VICTIMS of abuse by the Catholic Church did and were granted BILLIONS of dollars, in compensation. Neither Gaston Browne, Dawbrin Omarde nor no other who’re fighting for reparations for the abuses suffered by Africans during the transatlantic slave trade can deny this fact. Period!
Good morning to Mrs. Kentish my history teacher, at AGS & AGHS, you planted a seed, that’s still producing succulent fruits. I thank you for doing so.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏾Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
PM Browne please stop your hypocrisy.
While you are calling for reparations you are busy selling the little land which is left to the former colonizers.
Interestingly you are selling the coastal lands and boxing in the natives.
How could you in one breath be calling on the colonizers to pay for their actions and in the very next breath giving back the lands that was purchased with sweat and tears of former slaves and their descendants the very same colonial masters.
Please put your brains in gear before you put your clappers into action.
Attention Antigua Need Room: the link to this headline is NOT about The denial of US military on Island.
I have had many discussions and debates with many of my white friends and my black friends over the year. And during my student times I was a rebel. A revolutionary. Black Power was the thing. As I have grown older I have come to look at Reparation from yet another point of view. I would call it being Devils advocate. Black people, my forefathers were made slaves and made to work and being treated less humane by the white people. We were taken from Africa. Therefore if anyone need reparation it is the African countries from where we were taken. The slave in Caribbean were set free in the mid or late 1800 and thereafter they were even given independence. Which actually means they were not taken back to Africa. They were given a new homeland. What is the value of the lands they were given can only be estimated, based on the future value calculations. Because lands do not depreciate and stays forever, accept with the threat of Climate Change. But you may get were I’m going with this. We have gotten reparation when we were given a new homeland. Not to mention that the lands were in many cases occupied by indigenous people, who the white man either killed or drove away. Accept for some remaining Dutch and French Colonies the Caribbean belongs now to the former slaves children. Some Islands where fortunate to have found new wealth other then the Cane Sugar and Cotton they were used to cultivate. Like Trinidad and now Guyana and Surinam has found oil. And Guyana and Surinam have also found gold and other minerals. What is still not iron out is the un-equality in the world of trade, and education. The former rulers seem to still hold the keys of our economies and decide how much we grow and how much we get educated. So in my opinion we the descendants of slaves are not really entitle to reparation because we were given a new homeland in return. It’s now up to us to make the best of our new found homeland.
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